Running puts repetitive load through the same muscles, tendons, and joints thousands of times over — which is exactly what makes it effective training and exactly what makes it prone to overuse injury. Whether you're training for your first 5K or deep into marathon mileage, I work with runners dealing with IT band pain, shin splints, tight calves, and the kind of nagging overuse issues that build up gradually rather than happening all at once.
Massage Therapy for Runners
Common running-related issues treated
IT band syndrome — pain along the outside of the knee or hip from a tight or irritated iliotibial band, often worsened by increased mileage.
Shin splints — pain along the shin from repetitive impact, common when training volume increases quickly.
Runner's knee (patellofemoral pain) — aching around or behind the kneecap, often related to hip and glute strength or tracking.
Achilles tightness or tendinopathy — stiffness or pain in the Achilles tendon, especially noticeable at the start of a run.
Plantar fasciitis — heel or arch pain, often worse with the first steps in the morning.
Hip flexor and glute tightness — compensatory tension that builds up from repetitive stride mechanics.
Hamstring or calf strain — muscle tightness or minor strain from increased pace, hills, or training load.
Treatment focuses on reducing tightness and restriction in the muscles and connective tissue most affected by running — calves, IT band, hip flexors, glutes, and hamstrings — while addressing compensation patterns that build up around an existing niggle. This can support recovery between training blocks, help manage overuse issues before they become bigger problems, and complement the training and rehab work you're already doing. Massage therapy isn't a substitute for medical assessment of an acute or worsening injury, but it's a useful part of managing the cumulative load that comes with regular training.
How massage therapy can help
Who is this treatment for?
This page is for recreational and competitive runners at any stage — whether you're building up base mileage, mid-way through marathon or half-marathon training, returning to running after a break, or dealing with a specific overuse issue that keeps coming back. It's also relevant if you're cross-training with running alongside another sport and feeling the cumulative load in your hips, knees, or lower legs.
Sessions begin with a discussion of your training — mileage, recent changes in volume or terrain, and where you're feeling tightness or pain — followed by an assessment and hands-on treatment focused on the areas contributing to the issue. Depending on what's going on, this may include deep tissue work, muscle energy technique, traction, and stretching — techniques that tend to be more intense than a relaxation-focused massage, and are sometimes done over clothing rather than requiring you to undress. You can expect to actively participate in parts of the session, such as specific movements or stretches, rather than simply lying still throughout.
What to expect
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Treatment can help reduce tightness and irritation around the IT band and surrounding hip and glute muscles, which often contributes to the pain. It's most effective alongside addressing the training factors (like a sudden increase in mileage) that triggered it.
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This depends on your training volume and goals — some runners come in regularly during heavy training blocks to manage cumulative tightness, while others book as specific issues come up. This is usually discussed after your first session.
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Regular treatment can help address tightness and compensation patterns before they become bigger issues, though it works best as one part of a broader approach that includes appropriate training load, strength work, and recovery.
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Yes, direct billing is available to Pacific Blue Cross, Greenshield, Medavie Blue Cross, Sun Life, Canada Life, and most major insurers.
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$140 for a 60-minute session.